Apple appears to be finalizing the initial iOS 27 release, but the fifth beta pushed to developers and public testers this week still brings visual tweaks and small usability improvements that refine the experience ahead of launch.
iOS 27 Beta 5: what’s new
The fifth beta of iOS 27 alters some app icons, adjusts Liquid Glass, and introduces a handful of smaller features intended to make the iPhone feel a bit smoother. The update is part of the final polishing work as Apple prepares to ship iOS 27 with new iPhone models next month.
iPhone 18 Pro Max battery capacity reportedly larger
An alleged photo of a battery pack for a Chinese model of the iPhone 18 Pro Max lists a capacity of 5,391 mAh, up from 4,823 mAh for the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro Max battery—an increase of nearly 12 percent. Separately, reports say the iPhone 18 Pro will again start with 256GB of storage, and an analyst firm estimates that memory price spikes and other cost increases could raise Apple’s manufacturing costs for the new models by about 38 percent.
Foldable “iPhone Ultra” accessories reveal front-display details
Images and a hands-on video shared by the leaker Ice Universe show screen protectors for a rumored foldable “iPhone Ultra.” The accessory reportedly confirms asymmetric corners on the cover display—square corners on the side next to the hinge and rounded corners on the opposite edge—matching previous descriptions of a hinge-based foldable design. Third-party camera protectors for the device also suggest two expected color options: silver and dark blue.
Apple Watch lineup rethink under consideration
Reporter Mark Gurman wrote in his newsletter that Apple is reevaluating the Apple Watch lineup and considering significant design changes. Ideas under exploration reportedly include a round display and even screenless fitness-tracker products, alongside nearer-term possibilities such as the return of a ceramic case option either this year or next.
MacBook Pro and iMac refreshes likely in October
Based on Apple’s usual schedule, a refreshed base-model MacBook Pro with a 14-inch display powered by an M6 chip is expected in October, along with updated 24-inch iMacs that could use M5 or M6 chips. No major design changes are anticipated for the iMac update.
iCloud+ 2TB subscribers gain Home app Apple Intelligence features
Starting with iOS 27, iPhone users subscribed to an iCloud+ plan with at least 2TB of storage will receive three new Apple Intelligence features in the Home app: generated video descriptions for HomeKit Secure Video cameras, the ability to search for camera clips, and automatic surfacing of noteworthy clips. On the fifth developer beta, the Home app now indicates how many HomeKit Secure Video cameras are eligible for generated video summaries; tester Stephen Robles reported having 8TB of iCloud+ storage (6TB plus 2TB from Apple One) and eligibility for video summaries for up to 15 cameras.
